New data released today by the Ministry of Justice shows the
backlog in the Crown Courts hit a new all-time high of more than
57,000 cases in February.
As a result of the backlog, which now sits at 57,516 cases,
victims of serious crime, including rape, are being forced to
wait up to four years for justice. Meanwhile, violent offenders
are being allowed to avoid prison because of delays.
The news of the record-breaking backlog comes despite the fact
that last summer the Justice Secretary stated his ambition to get the backlog in the courts
“sorted and manageable by Easter next year [2021]”.
Over the course of the pandemic, Labour has outlined a package of
measures to reduce the backlog including war juries of six in
most cases until restrictions are lifted, the rapid extension of
Nightingale Courts, the roll-out of mass testing in courts and
33,000 additional sitting days – all of which the government has
so far ignored.
MP,
Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, said:
“The government is letting victims of crime down by allowing the
Crown Court backlog to reach more than 57,000 cases for the very
first time.
“A decade of Conservative cuts to courts, sitting days and the
whole justice system allowed the backlog to grow to a staggering
39,000 cases even before the pandemic began.
“The government must now finally listen to Labour and enact the
emergency measures we have been pushing for months to ensure
victims do not face even worse delays.”
Ends
Note to editors:
The latest backlog statistics are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/hmcts-weekly-management-information-during-coronavirus-march-2020-to-march-2021
